December 16, 2012

Patrick Cockburn: There Is A "False And Propagandistic Account of Events In Syria"

This misperception of the reality on the ground in Syria is fuelled
in part by propaganda, but more especially by inaccurate and misleading
reporting by the media where bias towards the rebels and against the
government is unsurpassed since the height of the Cold War. Exaggerated
notions are given of rebel strength and popularity. The Syrian
government is partially responsible for this. By excluding all but a few
foreign journalists, the regime has created a vacuum of information
that is naturally filled by its enemies. In the event, a basically false
and propagandistic account of events in Syria has been created by a
foreign media credulous in using pro-opposition sources as if they were
objective reporting.

The execution video is a case in point. I
have not met a Syrian in Damascus who has not seen it. It is having
great influence on how Syrians judge their future, but the mainstream
media outside Syria has scarcely mentioned it. Some may be repulsed by
its casual savagery, but more probably it is not shown because it
contradicts so much of what foreign leaders and reporters claim is
happening here.

The "western" and Gulf support of the insurgents continues even after nearly all insurgent groups pledged their continued support for the jihadist Nusra Front which the U.S. designated as a terrorist organization. Such insurgents also committed a sectarian massacre in the town of Aqrab. Only a few "western" media mention these embarrassing facts.